Press Release 21 June 2010
Visitors flock to Futuresource Communications Hub to debate the big communications challenges
The Futuresource 2010 Communications Hub, run by Sauce Consultancy in partnership with CIWM and the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group (APSRG), was a resounding success again this year, with a series of hard hitting debates around key communications challenges facing the industry.
With a strong line-up including Peter Ainsworth, former MP and Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ashley Ames of Ipsos Mori, Richard Swannell, Director of Design & Waste Minimisation for WRAP, and Financial Times environment correspondent Fiona Harvey, the debate sessions tackled challenging topics including public engagement in waste issues and infrastructure, good and bad science, building constructive relationships with protest groups, and the role of new media in the waste sector.
"The Communications Hub has really proved itself this year. We've had a series of truly exciting and dynamic debates with robust participation from the audience and ultimately delivering a mandate to policy makers and industry leaders to use communications more effectively to engage with the public," said Caroline Macdonald, Director of Sauce Consultancy. "We will be back in 2011 with more debates on these issues as our sector continues to feature in the media spotlight."
"With the current focus on delivering 'more from less' and the inevitable impact that spending cuts will have on communications budgets, smart and effective ways of getting messages across and encouraging informed debate in our sector will become ever more important," says CIWM chief executive Steve Lee. "We were delighted with the level of debate this year and we will be building on this format to ensure that communications play a central role at next year's Futuresource event."
The Communications Hub also played host to Jane Davidson AM, the Welsh Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, who gave a keynote address to around 100 visitors on the positive steps Wales has taken to build a more sustainable future, including a 27% reduction in total waste arisings and 24% less waste going to landfill than in 1998, and the launch (today) of the new waste strategy for Wales, entitled 'Towards zero waste'.
Throughout the three days of the exhibition, Sauce ran a poll of visitors to the Communications Hub. Only around half of the 60 plus respondents believe that recycling food waste is key to achieving high recycling rates yet 90% believe that communication of the potential benefits of waste technologies is key to achieving community buy-in for new developments and 87% believe that future strategy on waste should have a stronger focus on commercial and industrial waste to ensure the UK reaches its landfill diversion targets.
All panel debates were recorded and will be available to view on Sauce Consultancy's newly launched multi-media website www.environmentalcommunications.tv.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. Futuresource (pronounced Future Resource) is a joint venture between the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Environmental Services Association (ESA). A major exhibition and conference for the sustainable waste, recycling and resource management sector and its client base, Futuresource is located at ExCeL London and is managed by IWM Business Services Ltd, a wholly owned commercial subsidiary of CIWM.
2. The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is the leading professional body for the waste management sector representing over 7000 individuals in the UK and overseas. Established in 1898, CIWM is a non profit-making organisation, dedicated to the promotion of professional competence amongst waste managers. CIWM seeks to raise standards for those working in and with the sector by producing best practice guidance, developing educational and training initiatives, and providing information on key waste-related issues. Comprehensive information about CIWM can be found at www.ciwm.co.uk
3. Sauce Consultancy is a specialist environmental communications company with significant experience in the waste and environmental fields. The company works for a wide range of public, private and third sector organisations, helping its clients to generate simple, effective messages and deliver integrated communications strategies using appropriate channels.
4. CIWM and Sauce Consultancy teamed up for the second year to run the Communications Hubat Futuresource. Effective communication lies right at the heart of behaviour change and delivering a more sustainable approach to waste and resource management depends on our sector's ability to engage with its customers and stakeholders. The exciting and dynamic programme for the 2010 Communications Hub tackled some of the big communications challenges in this field, providing an interactive forum where speakers from the industry and the media could discuss and debate these issues with the audience.
5. Environmental Communications.TV is designed to provide the latest in environmental news in the form of video, audio, print and images for use by the media and other interested parties. The website has been created to improve accessibility for journalists, industry commentators and policy makers to find information that is printed, visual or aural. As a first for the environment industry, Environmental Communications.TV is a dedicated outlet for mass environmental communication for personal use, getting news and information to people's fingertips.
Contact:
Pat Jennings
CIWM Communications Advisor
T: 01604 620426
M: 07912 228260
E: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk
